Q: What is the difference between a practicum and an internship?
A: A practicum usually requires fewer hours a week than an internship and is often paired with an academic course for credit. Practicum students usually spend more time in the semester shadowing or observing trained professionals in the field while interns are often expected to take on greater responsibility at the placement site.
Q: When can I complete a 6-credit hour Research or Field Practicum?
A: The HDF 355R course is available in fall, spring, and summer. You may take two consecutive semesters of HDF 355R in the same lab once you have completed any prerequisites and have upper division standing. The HDF 652F/652P course is only available during the fall and spring. You may take this course sometime in your senior year once you have completed any prerequisites. Please contact your academic advisor or review the course catalog for further details.
Q: How do I know if I need to complete a 6-credit hour Research or Field Practicum? When is the best time for me to take complete this course? Which one should I choose?
A: Please contact your academic advisor about your degree requirements and when to take the course. You may also contact them or email the Practicum Coordinator for further guidance on whether to choose the Field or Research Practicum.
Q: How and when do I choose a Field Practicum site?
A: Once you have been accepted to the Practicum Program, you will receive an email from the Practicum Coordinator with further instructions. You typically choose a site the semester before you take the course. You may select one that interests you from a list of over 50 community sites and Site Supervisors with whom we have existing partnerships.
Q: What is the Field Experience course HDF 352/352L?
A: A 10-hour experiential learning opportunity in the community or at the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory (UT Lab School). These courses typically do not count toward the Practicum requirement unless you make a two-semester commitment with the UT Lab School.
Q: Are the Research and Field practicums paid positions?
A: No, they are typically unpaid experiential learning opportunities for course credit.
20-30 minutes Zoom Information Sessions for Spring 2024 Semester: https://utexas.zoom.us/j/9444436871
- 1pm on Friday, 2/23
- 12pm on Monday, 2/26
- 630pm on Monday, 2/26
Recommendation: Meet with your Academic Advisor early to discuss how the Research Practicum would fit into your academic plan.
Step 1: Be on the lookout for an email from SoHE Advising about Field and Research Practicums each semester. Typically, these emails will come in early to mid September and between late January to February. Attend a mandatory information session.
Step 2: Complete a Research Practicum interest survey through Qualtrics.
Step 3: You will receive access to a Canvas page that has more information and the official Research Practicum application with the deadline.
On the application, students will be asked to indicate 3 faculty members with whom they would like to work. The Practicum Coordinator will pair students with faculty based on student faculty choices, previous research experience, career interests, scheduling availability, GPA, and faculty member need. Please know that this complicated process can take time, that faculty members listed below may or may not be taking students during the semester you apply, that many labs require that you volunteer in advance of completing research for Research Practicum credit, and that some have an even higher GPA requirement for their lab. In short, research practicum placements have become very competitive and students are not always accepted or placed with the faculty member of their choice. For a comprehensive list of faculty and their research interests, please see here:
Step 4: You will receive an email once your application has been reviewed and your acceptance status has been determined.
Step 5: If accepted, the Practicum Coordinator will email you to connect you with a research faculty member and will share details on how to register. All research faculty have an interview process. Some have an additional application.
Please feel free to contact Natalie Ammon, Practicum Coordinator, at hdfs.practicum@utexas.edu with your UTEID, your year in school, the type of practicum you are interested in (field or research), the semester you would like to take the course, and any questions.
Step 1: Be on the lookout for an email from SoHE Advising about Field and Research Practicums each semester. Typically, these emails will come in early to mid September and between late January and February. Attend a mandatory information session.
Step 2: Complete a Field Practicum interest survey through Qualtrics.
Step 3: You will receive an email granting you access to a Canvas page that has more information and the official Field Practicum application with the deadline. Please be prepared to meet with your Academic Advisor to complete the Academic Plan Form, which will be provided on the Canvas website.
Step 4: You will receive an email once your application has been reviewed and your acceptance status has been determined.
Step 5: If accepted, the Practicum Coordinator will hold a mandatory meeting 1 semester in advance of your field practicum on how to secure a practicum placement (you self-select off of a curated list of community partners) and will share details on how to register. All sites have an interview process. Some require an additional application.
Please feel free to contact Natalie Ammon, Practicum Coordinator, at hdfs.practicum@utexas.edu with your UTEID, your year in school, the type of practicum you are interested in (field or research), the semester you would like to take the course, and any questions.
Students gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical framework of Human Development and Family Sciences and learn about the research process through working 10 hours a week in a faculty member’s lab for 2 consecutive semesters. Students are required to attend lab meetings and complete research tasks such as conducting literature searches, entering and coding data, and assisting with data collection. Tasks vary throughout the semester and across labs. The HDF 355R Research Practicum course carries an Independent Inquiry Flag. Please see the following link for more information: https://ugs.utexas.edu/flags/students. The HDF 359 Research Practicum course does not carry an Independent Inquiry Flag. Please inquire with your academic advisor if you are uncertain about your degree requirements.
Requirements: A minimum requirement of a 3.0 GPA and a maximum of 17-credit hours taken in the semester unless given permission by the faculty member. Please see your Academic Advisor for additional information on pre-requisites.
Please see the Application Procedure tab on the left of this page for more information. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Natalie Ammon, Practicum Coordinator, at hdfs.practicum@utexas.edu with your UTEID, your year in school, the type of practicum you are interested in (field or research), and the semester you would like to take the course.
Students already accepted to the Honors in Advanced Human Development and Family Sciences (HAHDFS) program have a different registration process for their courses. Please contact the Program Coordinator, Ladia Hernandez, at Ladia.Hernandez@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.
“Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.” – John Dewey
The Field Practicum is a form of experiential learning where one may work, shadow, and/or observe at a community partner placement site in a HDFS related field. The course consists of 2 parts: 1) an academic course intended to integrate HDFS theories and content into the practicum and 2) 18 hours a week under the supervision of a trained professional at a community site. The HDF 652F/652P Field Practicum course also carries an Independent Inquiry Flag. Please see the following link for more information: https://ugs.utexas.edu/flags/students
Requirements: Students must have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA, register for a maximum of 12 credit hours (including the 6 practicum credit hours) the semester they complete the practicum, and apply 2 semesters in advance.
Please note: Previous students consider this a demanding course; it requires 18 hours on site plus a 1 hour weekly seminar and time dedicated to course assignments related to an independent inquiry flag. Please evaluate your courseload and all outside obligations when deciding which semester to take this course.
Please see the Application Procedure tab on the left of this page for more information. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Natalie Ammon, Practicum Coordinator, at hdfs.practicum@utexas.edu with your UTEID, your year in school, the type of practicum you are interested in (field or research), and the semester you would like to take the course.